Disorders of the cardiovascular system are one of the most common health problems of mankind. Studies have been conducted to prove that they are much more common among urban dwellers than among those who spend most of their time in rural areas. In addition, diseases in this category "rejuvenate", developing in people under the age of 40. One of the most common pathologies of this type is hypertension. This is a regular increase in blood pressure above the average.
Symptoms (signs) of hypertension
The manifestations of the disease depend on the stage of development. Normal blood pressure is between 110-130 at 70-90 mmHg. Depending on the severity of the disease, it can rise in critical cases to levels from 260 to 110. This condition threatens human health and life. At the same time, in the initial stages, hypertension can be expressed only with mild malaise, increased fatigue and headache. As the pathology develops, its course becomes more complicated. The most dangerous condition is a hypertensive crisis - a sharp jump in blood pressure. The general symptoms of the disease are:
- headache, feeling of tightness, especially in the back of the head and temples;
- noise and ringing in the ears;
- "spots", spots, diaper before the eyes;
- reduced visual acuity;
- deterioration of spatial coordination and fine motor skills;
- tremors, numbness of arms and legs;
- nausea and vomiting.
The signs of hypertension are manifested in varying degrees depending on the stage of the disease. Deterioration of the condition occurs gradually, often throughout life. There are three stages of disease development:
- I - with blood pressure readings from 140-160 to 90-100 mmHg;
- II - at a pressure of 160-180 per 100-110 mmHg;
- III - when exceeding the upper limits of the second stage.
The constant increase in pressure leads to malfunctions of the heart - the most common consequence of this is the development of coronary artery disease. There is also a risk of heart attack or stroke.
Causes of hypertension
The nature of diseases of the cardiovascular system has not been fully studied by specialists. A particular difficulty lies in the fact that such disorders are often formed during intrauterine development and appear much later. At the same time, it is not always possible to notice and study the beginning of the disease. Hypertension is most often manifested in combination with the following disorders:
- kidney diseases;
- vascular pathologies;
- blockage of the renal artery;
- pathologies of the thyroid gland;
- disorders in the functioning of the adrenal glands;
- smoking and drinking alcohol;
- insufficient or excessive physical activity.
Such reasons cause a secondary form of the disease - this is what develops under the influence of provoking factors. Signs of hypertension usually appear after 35-40 years. The primary subtype of the disease is caused directly by congenital pathologies of blood vessels or the heart. The following factors further increase the risk of developing hypertension:
- age over 55 years;
- obesity;
- elevated cholesterol levels;
- genetic predisposition;
- diabetes mellitus;
- hormonal disorders;
- frequent stress and depression.
Blood pressure levels are directly affected by diet. Some foods - dark chocolate, coffee, alcohol - can cause an increase in blood pressure. Saturated fats, spices and sugar affect the condition of the blood vessels and the chemical composition of the blood, which indirectly affects the increase in blood pressure. It has been proven that smoking often leads to the disease.
Which doctor should I contact?
Manifestation of symptoms of hypertension requires mandatory medical intervention in the earliest stages. Delay can provoke the development of complications and in the future lead to such serious conditions as stroke and heart attack. Timely diagnosis will significantly reduce the risk. The doctor will help you solve the problem:
One of the most important points in the identification of the disease is the determination of its root causes, especially if the hypertension is secondary. In this case, the effectiveness of the treatment will not be high without eliminating the prerequisites for the pathology. To deal with it, the doctor will have to clarify the clinical picture as much as possible. To do this, he will ask the following questions:
- What symptoms are bothering you?
- How long ago did they start appearing?
- How often do hypertensive attacks occur?
- Are they related to any external factors?
- Does the patient have heart, kidney, or endocrine disease?
- What kind of life does he lead?
- What symptomatic treatment is used for attacks?
An external examination will then be performed, listening to the heart and measuring blood pressure. In addition, laboratory tests of urine and blood, hardware tests are prescribed, and tools for differential diagnosis are used.
Methods of treating the disease
The scheme for influencing the pathology is based on the causes of hypertension in each individual case. It is also important to consider whether it is primary or secondary in nature, as the main purpose of the impact depends on this. The totality of this information allows the specialist to build an optimal individual treatment plan. It most often involves the following steps:
- weight control through diet;
- performing physical exercises of different intensity;
- taking diuretic drugs;
- use of anti-tachycardia drugs;
- taking adrenergic blockers;
- use of antispasmodics and painkillers;
- use of drugs containing potassium.
The therapeutic regimen is strongly influenced by the stage of the disease. In the first stage, it is sometimes possible to get by even without medication, while the second and third stages require rather large doses or strong drugs. Only conservative therapy is used to treat high blood pressure.
Diagnosis of hypertension
The detection of pathology requires observations over a certain period of time with constant monitoring of the results. This makes it possible to determine whether it is of a primary nature and whether there are accompanying disorders. In this case, the method of differential diagnosis is used. It consists of the following stages:
- Multiple blood pressure measurements. It is performed on both hands, in a sitting or standing position depending on the age. Accuracy is around 85%.
- Daily pressure monitoring is a procedure that allows continuous monitoring over a period of time using portable equipment. The price depends on the required duration of observation. Accuracy exceeds 95%.
- Laboratory tests of urine and blood. Determination of the quantitative and qualitative composition of liquids and the rate of chemical reactions in the body. The accuracy is about 75%.
- X-ray of the chest. Allows you to visually assess the state of the heart. Accuracy - below 70%.
An electrocardiogram is prescribed for possible heart pathologies. In addition, an ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity can be performed to determine the condition of the kidneys and diagnosis of the fundus if the vision deteriorates.
Possible complications
The symptoms of hypertension affect a significant part of organs and systems that are not directly related to blood circulation. However, general health depends on the quantity and quality of nutrients and oxygen carried by the fluid flow. Severe attacks of hypertension can provoke the following problems:
- vascular deformities;
- coronary heart disease;
- kidney pathologies;
- threat of stroke and heart attack;
- blurred vision due to damage to the eye vessels;
- development of "pulmonary heart";
- exercise intolerance.
The possibility of complications of varying severity depends on the stage of the disease. In the initial and middle stages, attacks can be supplemented by nosebleeds, vomiting attacks and tachycardia. If the situation worsens significantly, loss of consciousness, heart failure and violation of the integrity of blood vessels are possible. The most serious conditions are crisis, heart attack and stroke.
Risk groups
Many people ask questions about what kind of disease hypertension is, since the prevalence of this problem is very wide. At the same time, the pathology tends to affect people of working age - from 20 to 45 years, although a few decades ago the threshold was much higher. Not everyone is equally likely to develop this disease. The following groups are particularly at risk:
- overweight and obese people;
- those whose activity is associated with heavy physical exertion or, conversely, with its absence;
- people with a genetic predisposition to high blood pressure;
- living in ecologically polluted areas;
- smokers and alcohol abusers;
- people who do not monitor the content of fats and carbohydrates in their food;
- those who have been diagnosed with severe heart, liver or kidney disease.
Pathology does not make preferences between men and women - the statistics for both sexes are approximately the same. Due to the more frequent consumption of alcohol and harsh working conditions, however, the risk for the stronger sex is slightly higher. In women, the disease usually develops at the age of 55-60, and in men - at the age of 65-70.
Prevention of hypertension
Preventing cardiovascular diseases is not always easy, as many of them are caused by congenital characteristics of the body or age. However, preventive measures will have a positive effect on the situation and health in general. Hypertension can develop due to poor lifestyle choices, so correcting some aspects of it will be beneficial. The recommendations are:
- timely treatment of all diseases that provoke hypertension - heart, blood vessels, blood, kidneys;
- stick to routine;
- avoid lack of sleep and overwork;
- maintain a healthy diet - avoid foods with a high fat and cholesterol content, alcoholic beverages, strong tea and coffee;
- perform moderate physical activity and avoid a sedentary lifestyle;
- regularly undergo preventive examinations;
- take vitamin and mineral complexes recommended by your doctor to maintain health.
Hypertension can be prevented only by maintaining the general well-being of the body. Several systems influence the formation of this disease, so prevention with pills or exercise alone will not be effective. An important stage of its application is the timely diagnosis of accompanying and provoking factors.